Tlaib wins Conyers' seat; Congress to get first Muslim woman

Former state representative edged out Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones

She is unopposed in November's election

Rashida Tlaib

Former Michigan state Rep. Rashida Tlaib has won the Democratic nomination to run unopposed for the House seat long held by former Rep. John Conyers, setting her up to become the first Muslim woman elected to Congress.

No Republicans or third-party candidates ran in Tuesday's District 13 primary race, meaning Tlaib is set to win the seat in November's election and begin serving a full two-year term in January. Tlaib edged out Detroit City Council President Brenda Jones with 31 percent of the vote to Jones' 30 percent.

Tlaib, 42, served in the Michigan House 2009-14. She defeated five other candidates to win the nomination to run for a full term representing the heavily Democratic district, which covers much of Detroit and some of its suburbs.

"This is a huge victory for the Arab- and Muslim-American communities — it's also a huge victory for the city of Detroit," said Sally Howell, director of the Center for Arab American Studies at the University of Michigan-Dearborn. "Rashida Tlaib brings forward the legacy of John Conyers in terms of the groundbreaking role he played in Congress and his commitment to civil rights."

The 89-year-old Conyers was first elected to the House in 1964. He stepped down in December citing health reasons, though several former female staffers had accused him of sexual harassment.

Joining Tlaib and Jones in the race for the full two-year term were Conyers' great-nephew, state Sen. Ian Conyers, Westland Mayor Bill Wild, former state Rep. Shanelle Jackson and current state Sen. Coleman Young, the son of the late Coleman A. Young, who was elected mayor in 1973 and held the position for 20 years.